Entertainment Sector Benefit Fund

At a glance

• What: Council has approved an Entertainment Venue Licensing and Entertainment Sector Benefit Agreement approach; the Committee is shaping the implementing ordinance and a fund supported by entertainment venues. No formal action was taken on September 15, 2026.
• Timeline: Tied to renewal of existing licenses in May 2027, which leaves room for Committee input.
• Open questions (Councilor Michniewicz): who pays into the fund, who accesses it, and who decides how it is used. Feedback from the entertainment sector, venues and prospective recipients is needed.
• Manager of the fund: Corporation Counsel Goldman floated the Portland Development Corporation (PDC) and ordinance language on appropriating revenue into the fund. Councilor Michniewicz envisioned an initial collaboration with the PDC; Councilor Sykes said the PDC is not the right entity.
• Cultural plan: Sykes proposed a legal framework now but waiting on details until the 1990s cultural plan (updated in 2018) is refreshed, and fast-tracking that update. Councilor Ali said the creative community must be heard. Dena Libner said staff would raise the update with Creative Portland and it may become part of the annual budget process.
• Next: Staff follow-up memo for the next Committee meeting (October 6, 2026).

Sources

• Housing and Economic Development Committee minutes, September 15, 2026: https://portlandme.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=20578,plainText=false)

Log

2026-09-15 - Housing & Economic Development Committee

Item 5 (fund guidance) and item 6 (second workshop on public support for the arts; memo in packet, no formal action) held together in discussion.